Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet probably his most well known work, and for good reason. It taps into really poignant parts of the human experience: love versus hate, friendship versus rivalry, and uses them to tell a tragic tale. Students will learn about these thematic aspects, as well as the important characterization that takes place in the play, and the historical context of the piece. They will be able to do this to the extent of critically comparing them with modern adaptations of the classic play. The will also learn how to identify the use of several literary devices during the course of the piece. All of this knowledge will culminate in their ability to take a scene from Romeo and Juliet and translate it's language and meaning to a modern audience.
Establish Goals
Common Core State Standards Content Area: English Grade Level: Grade 9-10 Domain: Reading - Literature Cluster: Key Ideas and Details Standards: #4 Determine the meaning of works and phrases as they are used in the text including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.
Students will understand that
• Literature from even the Elizabethan age, such as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, has themes that are relevant and relatable to life today, and understand character development as a result of these themes. • Understand the historical context and the social structures of the Elizabethan era, and relate them to the story. • Themes bring about the entire meaning of the story.
Essential Questions
• How are the themes in Romeo and Juliet relatable to the modern world? • How do the characters in Romeo and Juliet effect the entire story? • Why are the setting and time period relevant to the theme of the story?
Students will know
• Key factual information: Historical setting, Elizabethan social structures, historical context (what was happening in the world/region/Shakespeare's life at the time this was written?) • Critical details: specific language choices, use of iambic pentameter, the use of artistic license for some of Shakespeare's wording. •Timelines, events, vocabulary, and people: Themes, characters, character choices, timeline of events leading to the story's climax, the nature of a tragedy, the role each character plays in the story's outcome.
Students will be able to
• Derive figurative meaning of words and phrases used in Romeo and Juliet. • Make meaning of themes in the context of the story. • Exhibit an understanding of the historical context of the piece. •Contrast the setting and structure of society to the modern world. • Assume the role of a character and discuss what they could have done to prevent the story's outcome. •Reflect on the similarities between the themes in Romeo and Juliet and more modern works. (West Side Story, The Lion King 2, High School Musical, Titanic).
Performance Task Overview You are a group of young screenwriters looking for you big break. You have just heard about an amazing opportunity to get one of your scripts produced! All you have to do is take a scene (which I will assign to you) from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and translate both the words and the social contexts to appeal to a "hip young" audience! You can use whatever genre you'd like (drama, comedy, horror, musical, etc) as long as it is appropriate (come talk to me if you have any doubt about whether your idea is appropriate.) Once the scene is filmed, and the script has been turned in, you will show your sample to a board of movie producers. Have fun, and good luck.
Expectations
Absences: The best way to do your best is to be at school, this is true for all of your classes. However, things happen, life happens, and sometimes you may not be able to be here. If this is the case, it's your job to contact me for any information or work that you have missed. Any worksheets or handouts that were used in the class(es) you missed will be in the letter tray in the back of the room, be sure to collect any that you need. You will have three class days to get any missed work back to me, if you need more time than that for any reason, be sure to meet with me to discuss your options.
Plagiarism: You can refer to the school handbook for the specifics of plagiarism, just know that you will be expected to respect the creative and intellectual property of others in this class.
Assignments: Assignments are expected to be handed in on time, but things happen, and if, for any reason, something deters you from completing an assignment, come to talk to me so that we can discuss the alternatives.
Classroom Expectations: My classroom is a safe space for every student, as is the entire school. I have full expectation and trust that you will always respect each other, myself, and the classroom in every way possible. This is not the kind of classroom where you will be expected to sit still and be silent for all of our time together, but to have fun, we have to be sure that we are behaving in a way that is conducive to a collaborative environment. I also expect that students show up to class prepared, not only with all of your materials,
Benchmarks
• Comic Life: Students will use this technology to illustrate specific bits of challenging language. (50 points) • iTunes: Students will compile playlists focused on expressing the meaning of different scenes in Romeo and Juliet. (50points) • Google Docs: Create group newspaper to discuss the events and customs of the time period. (100 points) • Glogster: Use media from today and the Elizabethan period to contrast them. (50 points) • Blog: Blog as the character throughout the unit. (100 points) • Fakebook: Create "fakebook" accounts for Romeo and Juliet. (50 points)
Performance task (200 points) (Listed above)
Grading Scale
A (93 -100), A- (90 - 92), B+ (87 - 89), B (83 - 86), B- (80 - 82), C+(77 - 79), C (73-76), C- (70 - 72), D+(67 - 69), D (63 - 66), D- (60 - 62), F (0 - 59).
Office Location: 118 Hefler Hall
Office Hours: 3-5p.m.
E-mail: alison.hutchins@maine.edu
Summary of Unit
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet probably his most well known work, and for good reason. It taps into really poignant parts of the human experience: love versus hate, friendship versus rivalry, and uses them to tell a tragic tale. Students will learn about these thematic aspects, as well as the important characterization that takes place in the play, and the historical context of the piece. They will be able to do this to the extent of critically comparing them with modern adaptations of the classic play. The will also learn how to identify the use of several literary devices during the course of the piece. All of this knowledge will culminate in their ability to take a scene from Romeo and Juliet and translate it's language and meaning to a modern audience.Establish Goals
Common Core State StandardsContent Area: English
Grade Level: Grade 9-10
Domain: Reading - Literature
Cluster: Key Ideas and Details
Standards: #4 Determine the meaning of works and phrases as they are used in the text including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.
Students will understand that
• Literature from even the Elizabethan age, such as William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, has themes that are relevant and relatable to life today, and understand character development as a result of these themes.• Understand the historical context and the social structures of the Elizabethan era, and relate them to the story.
• Themes bring about the entire meaning of the story.
Essential Questions
• How are the themes in Romeo and Juliet relatable to the modern world?• How do the characters in Romeo and Juliet effect the entire story?
• Why are the setting and time period relevant to the theme of the story?
Students will know
• Key factual information: Historical setting, Elizabethan social structures, historical context (what was happening in the world/region/Shakespeare's life at the time this was written?)• Critical details: specific language choices, use of iambic pentameter, the use of artistic license for some of Shakespeare's wording.
•Timelines, events, vocabulary, and people: Themes, characters, character choices, timeline of events leading to the story's climax, the nature of a tragedy, the role each character plays in the story's outcome.
Students will be able to
• Derive figurative meaning of words and phrases used in Romeo and Juliet.• Make meaning of themes in the context of the story.
• Exhibit an understanding of the historical context of the piece.
•Contrast the setting and structure of society to the modern world.
• Assume the role of a character and discuss what they could have done to prevent the story's outcome.
•Reflect on the similarities between the themes in Romeo and Juliet and more modern works. (West Side Story, The Lion King 2, High School Musical, Titanic).
Performance Task Overview
You are a group of young screenwriters looking for you big break. You have just heard about an amazing opportunity to get one of your scripts produced! All you have to do is take a scene (which I will assign to you) from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and translate both the words and the social contexts to appeal to a "hip young" audience! You can use whatever genre you'd like (drama, comedy, horror, musical, etc) as long as it is appropriate (come talk to me if you have any doubt about whether your idea is appropriate.) Once the scene is filmed, and the script has been turned in, you will show your sample to a board of movie producers. Have fun, and good luck.
Expectations
Absences: The best way to do your best is to be at school, this is true for all of your classes. However, things happen, life happens, and sometimes you may not be able to be here. If this is the case, it's your job to contact me for any information or work that you have missed. Any worksheets or handouts that were used in the class(es) you missed will be in the letter tray in the back of the room, be sure to collect any that you need. You will have three class days to get any missed work back to me, if you need more time than that for any reason, be sure to meet with me to discuss your options.Plagiarism: You can refer to the school handbook for the specifics of plagiarism, just know that you will be expected to respect the creative and intellectual property of others in this class.
Assignments: Assignments are expected to be handed in on time, but things happen, and if, for any reason, something deters you from completing an assignment, come to talk to me so that we can discuss the alternatives.
Classroom Expectations: My classroom is a safe space for every student, as is the entire school. I have full expectation and trust that you will always respect each other, myself, and the classroom in every way possible. This is not the kind of classroom where you will be expected to sit still and be silent for all of our time together, but to have fun, we have to be sure that we are behaving in a way that is conducive to a collaborative environment. I also expect that students show up to class prepared, not only with all of your materials,
Benchmarks
• Comic Life: Students will use this technology to illustrate specific bits of challenging language. (50 points)• iTunes: Students will compile playlists focused on expressing the meaning of different scenes in Romeo and Juliet. (50 points)
• Google Docs: Create group newspaper to discuss the events and customs of the time period. (100 points)
• Glogster: Use media from today and the Elizabethan period to contrast them. (50 points)
• Blog: Blog as the character throughout the unit. (100 points)
• Fakebook: Create "fakebook" accounts for Romeo and Juliet. (50 points)
Grading Scale
A (93 -100), A- (90 - 92), B+ (87 - 89), B (83 - 86), B- (80 - 82), C+(77 - 79), C (73-76), C- (70 - 72), D+(67 - 69), D (63 - 66), D- (60 - 62), F (0 - 59).